By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami
MIAMI | The Archdiocese of Miami is waiting to hear back from law enforcement after a pair of thieves stole an air conditioning unit from the grounds of St. Ann Mission in Naranja.
The theft was caught on surveillance video and occurred around 4 a.m. Sunday morning, Sept. 24, 2023. (Thieves arrive a little after 3:55 a.m. in the video.)
The archdiocese has a case number but has not been informed if any detective has been assigned to investigate.
St. Ann Mission, currently undergoing a renovation that includes construction of a new church, ministers to a mostly low-income community of farm and nursery workers. It is located at 13875 S.W. 264 St., Naranja, about five miles northwest of Homestead Air Reserve Base.
“We have two relevant videos that can be shared with police: one of the truck pulling up and two of the thieves stealing the machine,” said David Prada, archdiocesan director of Building and Property.
He noted the irony of “thieves stealing from the poor church that serves the local migrant community. The building AC they stole serves the food and clothes bank for those in need.”
“The brand new $5,000 unit was destroyed and they will sell it for scrap metal while the church needs to spend $5,000 (to replace it),” said Sister Elizabeth Worley, a member of the Sisters of St. Joseph of St. Augustine who serves as archdiocesan chancellor for administration and COO. “The building is not yet occupied.”
She added that she hoped publicizing the video would help identify the thieves. “Otherwise, they will continue to do it again.”
